ST KILDA has ridden a wave of Lenny Hayes-inspired emotion to register the upset of the season, downing Fremantle by 58 points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The bottom-placed Saints were given almost no chance against a Dockers outfit that seemed on an inexorable rise to the top of the AFL ladder, but cooked up a scarcely-believable boilover.
Fremantle had won its past eight games to sit in second spot, while St Kilda had slumped to 11-straight defeats.
But it was Alan Richardson's men who engineered a win for the ages.
Not since round five against Essendon had the Saints gone marching in, however they fully deserved their shock 17.16 (118) to 9.6 (60) triumph before 16,594 fans.
"It was a fantastic performance, there’s no doubt about that," Richardson said post-match.
"I didn’t see that coming. We all have enormous admiration for the Fremantle footy club.
"They looked like they were off slightly but it was so pleasing that our guys gave four quarters."
While St Kilda remains in 18th spot after the win, Freo (12-5) slipped to third and could be outside the top four after the split round.
With just six games left to send retiring champion Hayes off in style, the Saints hit the contest with more desperation and intensity.
St Kilda was willing to lay everything on the line, highlighted by Sean Dempster backing in front of Matthew Pavlich on the lead in the opening minutes.
Demspter came off second best from a head clash and was taken from the ground on a stretcher and substituted out of the game.
The courageous act inspired his teammates, who piled on nine goals to three in the opening half.
Ex-Hawk Shane Savage led the charge in arguably his best game for the Saints across half-back, while Farren Ray, Luke Dunstan and Hayes lended strong support.
Nick Riewoldt (four goals) and Rhys Stanley (a career-best three) combined for 49 possessions, 30 marks and seven majors.
Fremantle was shell-shocked and fumbly, its famed defensive structure brought crashing down by St Kilda's run and precise forward delivery.
St Kilda booted four goals to one to quarter-time – all from long-range bombs via Riewoldt, Brodie Murdoch, Dunstan and Stanley.
Spurred on by a small but emotion-charged crowd, the Saints ran with the momentum in a five-goal to two second quarter.
It may well be remembered as the term Stanley arrived as Riewoldt's successor.
The maligned 23-year-old drilled two more goals, with his third long-bomb from 50 sending the Saints into the long break 60-20 ahead, with their highest half-time score for the season.
Freo's first half was summed up when Colin Sylvia kicked off the side of his boot to Pavlich in the pocket, which the skipper marked and sprayed his set shot out on the full.
Fremantle had held opponents to an average of just 55 points per game since round nine, while the Saints had averaged only 59 points during their 11-game losing run.
But the Saints made a mockery of those statistics and were far from finished.
Freo was expected to lift, however it was the Saints who motored away with six goals to two in the third quarter.
The Dockers won the final term, but it was of little consolation.
Pavlich (two goals) aside, Freo looked devoid of goal-kicking options without suspended livewire Hayden Ballantyne (38 goals in 2014) and Michael Walters.
Freo had too few contributors. Sylvia (seven possessions) could find himself back in the WAFL, while Zac Dawson was exposed in defence with Luke McPharlin below his best.
Anthony Morabito (four possessions) struggled in his first full game and ruckman Jonathon Griffin, in his first game since round seven last year, was convincingly beaten by Billy Longer.
"We played a very good opposition today. They were first to the ball, they spread really well, we couldn't get to them (and) they used it really well," Dockers coach Ross Lyon said.
"We certainly weren't at our best today but they played very, very well.
"There's no easy days in the AFL. Two clubs have been reminded of that really sharply – North Melbourne … and then us today."
Fremantle now has the bye to contemplate its missed opportunity before facing Carlton at home on a Thursday night.
St Kilda will take renewed hope into its clash against Gold Coast in round 19.
Old mates Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes and Leigh Montagna celebrate. Picture: AFL Media
ST KILDA 4.3 9.6 15.14 17.16 (118)
FREMANTLE 1.1 3.2 5.6 9.6 (60)
GOALS
St Kilda: Riewoldt 4, Stanley 3, Ray 2, Dunstan 2, Murdoch, Curren, Schneider, Montagna, Armitage, Shenton
Fremantle: Pavlich 2, Fyfe 2, Mayne, Morabito, Barlow, Pearce, Taberner
BEST
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Stanley, Savage, Dunstan, Ray, Hayes
Fremantle: Barlow, Crowley, Duffield
INJURIES
St Kilda: Dempster (concussion)
Fremantle: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Shenton replaced Dempster in the first quarter.
Fremantle: De Boer replaced Griffin in the third quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fisher, Rosebury, McInerney
Official crowd: 16,594 at Etihad Stadium
